Home Buying Tips

• How would a truly flexible mortgage work?
  Lat week I had little good to say about Fannie Mae's new Payment Power Program (PPP), which allows a borrower to skip up to two mortgage payments in any 12-month period, and up to 10 over the life of a loan. A skipped payment results in an additional loan, equal to the payment plus a healthy access fee, tacked on to the balance. As an emergency source of funds, it is much more costly than accessing a home-equity line of credit (HELOC). Continue article...
• How do I prepare to close my home purchase?
  Finding a home to buy and negotiating the purchase contract are the toughest parts of the home buying process for most people. But, if you don't plan ahead, and carefully monitor your home purchases transaction, you could find trouble ahead. Continue article...
• If your suburb sprawls, your gut is more likely to sprawl, too
  Car-loving suburbanites pack on about six more pounds than those who live in dense cities, where people tend to keep off weight by walking more. Continue article...
• Common Myths About Working With Real Estate Agents
  Get started by avoiding these common myths about real estate agents. Continue article...
• Back out legally
  When can I pull out of a purchase contract? Continue article...
• What Type of Real Estate Makes the Best Investment?
  During the economic downturn of the early 1990s, a home in the Crocker Highlands area of Oakland, Calif., sold twice in two years. The house did not change substantially during this time, nor did its price. But, average prices in the neighborhood dropped about 15 percent during the same time. Continue article...